Coconino County’s ban on cell phone usage while driving goes into effect Nov. 22. The ordinance varies depending on which city you are driving in.
In Page, Fredonia, Sedona and unincorporated areas of the county the ban is for using the phone at all times, unless the driver has a hands-free device. Coconino County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Brian Tozer said officers will most likely be pulling people over for violations related to distracted driving.
“This is not something that we are going to try to utilize to go out as a specific tool just to stop people," Tozer said. "You have to be careful with any law that comes out and I think that our main goal is to change the behavior, not to punish people.”
The fine is $100 for using the phone while driving. If someone is using a phone when involved in a traffic accident, the fine can be as high as $250. The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported in the first half of this year more than 2,600 people statewide were stopped for distracted driving were using a cell phone.
